August 10
Sermon Notes
August 10, 2008
Batman
INTRO - LAST WEEK: FAMOUS LINES, ROSEBUD,
John Adams (1735-1826) "Thomas Jefferson--still survives..." (4 July 1826. Jefferson died on the same day.)
Famous Last Words – may reveal something about the decease (i.e. John Adams)
LAST WEEK – CITIZEN KANE
Charles Kane was a young boy who was sent away from his family (love, symbolized by “Rosebud”). Kane’s childhood departure from his mother and his sled, Rosebud; made an impact on his life. His response for love taken from was to build a “No Trespassing” sign around his life. He desperately wanted love, but he wasn’t willing to give love. He became hedonistic. Only cared about himself. All this as the result of his childhood (previous experience). He responds by putting up “No Trespassing” and becoming a self-centered individual).
THIS WEEK – BATMAN
Batman was recently released. Many people have seen it. Beyond the cool visual effects and gadgets, Batman has a message.
How was Batman created?
Bruce Wayne, as a child, witnessed the murder of his parents. He responded to love taken from him, by also building “No Trespassing” signs. In his teenage/young adult years he adopted a self-destructive lifestyle. He would eventually continue to pass through the dark night of the soul and instead of being hedonistic (or self-centered, or egotistical; like Charles Kane), he became altruistic as he became Batman.
Point: In our childhood we have witnessed many “events” (that can haunt us).
Question: Do you know anyone haunted by their past?
NOTICE THE SIMILARITIES OF CHARLES KANE AND BRUCE WAYNE
Both were molded, haunted by their past, by a previous experience (love removed; i.e. parents were taken away). Both wanted love (perhaps parental). Both responded by refusing love (vulnerability factor). Charles Kane became hedonistic (self-centered & egotistical). Whereas, Bruce Wayne became altruistic. Both were molded by a previous experience as they put up their own “No Trespassing” signs and yet they responded differently.
QUESTION: Who is Batman?
CLIP # 1 “It’s not what you say…..” (1:09:50)
Intro to scene: Bruce Wayne is attempting to cover-up his identity as Batman by living as a millionaire playboy and not as a vigilante.
Bruce Wayne (caught as a shallow millionaire playboy); “Rachel, all of this…it’s not me…inside…I am more.”
Rachel Dawes (responding with a sense of concern); “But it’s not who you are underneath; it’s what you do that defines you.”
QUESTION: Agree or Disagree?
Are we defined by our actions or intentions?
CLIP #2 “It’s not what you say….. (1:58:17 - :44)
Intro to scene: When Batman is about to depart Rachel Dawes, she is concerned that she does not know who has saved her and fears that he won’t survive fighting the bad guys and believes there is a chance he may not survive and says, “Who are you?”
Batman responds; “It’s not who I am underneath; but what I do that defines me.”
Rachel Dawes (surprised and confused); “Bruce?”
And leaps away and “flies” off to beat up bad guys.
QUESTION: Who are you (Batman)?
1. Are you someone who has had a previous experience that defines you?
2. Are you someone who puts up “No Trespassing” signs that defines you?
3. Are you someone who responds with being “hedonistic” or “altruistic” that defines you?
4. Are you someone who hides behind a mask?
5. Are you someone who takes their fear and make it their strength?
MEANS Vs ENDS (Machiavelli)
QUESTION: Does the end justify the means?
For some, the end never justifies the means (i.e. vigilantes are always wrong)
Where for others, the end usually does not justify the means (i.e. vigilantes like Batman are accepted)
Where for still others, the end has less impact at restricting the means (i.e. vigilantes molding Batman, “Dark Knight”)
POINT: Batman some times, the end justifies the means (even his mere act of being a vigilante)
The TROLLY PROBLEM (Philipa Foot & Judith Jarvis Thomson)
A trolley car is traveling down the track. Further down the track is a group of people who do not hear the trolley and who will not be able to move out of the way. There isn’t enough time to stop the trolley before it kills the group of people. The only way to avoid killing the group is to switch the trolley to another track. However, there is one person standing on that track and the switch will kill that person. You have the power to switch the track of the trolley, what do you (morally equivalent)?
Utilitarian (what is the best for the most): you are required
Deontologist (obligation, duty – action over consequences; the end does not justify the means): No
Middle of the road: Not required, but permitted
BATMAN’S RESPONSE
Batman does not kill because, if he killed, it would make him as bad as the bag guys.
IMPLICATION – Guiding Principle
When the end justifies the means, this would imply that there is something more important than the principle or variable of “the end does not justify the means.” When does this happen in our life, help define who we are. The more we wrestle with this issue the more we get closer to answer the question, “Who are you”?
QUESTION: What is your guiding principle(s)?
Are there additional guiding principles beyond Previous Experience?
Prepunishment – Philip K. Dick, “Minority Report”
Infant Hitler syndrome
TRIADS – “relational discipleship” - a way of growing spiritually (know thyself)
JOHN 1:21 - John the Baptist was asked; “Who are you?
John the Baptist knew who he was and his mission/purpose (Ric).
John the Baptist defined himself by his actions:
A. Baptized
B. Knew he was not the Christ and his purpose to prepare the way
C. Died for his convictions
John 8:25 - Jesus was asked; “Who are you?”
QUESTION: Is Jesus defined by his actions?
RESPONSE TO THE IDENTITY OF JESUS
Does “Who are you Jesus?” make an impact on your life? Are we defined by how we respond to the question, “Who are you Jesus?” In other words, if Jesus is divine,, or Lord, or human, revolutionary, ; make an impact on our life.
HOW TO RESPOND TO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCES (paint of the past)
There are times, we must overcome our previous experiences; because our previous experiences make an impact on how we live our lives and the impact our choices make on the lives of others (Dennis Prager, “Happiness is a Serious Problem”; we are morally responsible to be happy). Victor Frankyl (Man’s Search for Meaning) reminds us that we always have a choice. They (Nazis) can take everything away, except how we respond to them. We need not be victim to our previous experiences; we have a choice.
CHALLENGE: What issue would cause you to agree that the end justifies the means?
NEXT WEEK: AUGUST 17: AMAZING GRACE
We will continue to wrestle with this issue: IT’S NOT WHAT YOU SAY, IT’S WHAT YOU DO; that defines you” through the movie Amazing Grace
CLUE: John Adams, said and did “no slavery”; whereas, Thomas Jefferson, said “no slavery”….
August 10, 2008
Batman
INTRO - LAST WEEK: FAMOUS LINES, ROSEBUD,
John Adams (1735-1826) "Thomas Jefferson--still survives..." (4 July 1826. Jefferson died on the same day.)
Famous Last Words – may reveal something about the decease (i.e. John Adams)
LAST WEEK – CITIZEN KANE
Charles Kane was a young boy who was sent away from his family (love, symbolized by “Rosebud”). Kane’s childhood departure from his mother and his sled, Rosebud; made an impact on his life. His response for love taken from was to build a “No Trespassing” sign around his life. He desperately wanted love, but he wasn’t willing to give love. He became hedonistic. Only cared about himself. All this as the result of his childhood (previous experience). He responds by putting up “No Trespassing” and becoming a self-centered individual).
THIS WEEK – BATMAN
Batman was recently released. Many people have seen it. Beyond the cool visual effects and gadgets, Batman has a message.
How was Batman created?
Bruce Wayne, as a child, witnessed the murder of his parents. He responded to love taken from him, by also building “No Trespassing” signs. In his teenage/young adult years he adopted a self-destructive lifestyle. He would eventually continue to pass through the dark night of the soul and instead of being hedonistic (or self-centered, or egotistical; like Charles Kane), he became altruistic as he became Batman.
Point: In our childhood we have witnessed many “events” (that can haunt us).
Question: Do you know anyone haunted by their past?
NOTICE THE SIMILARITIES OF CHARLES KANE AND BRUCE WAYNE
Both were molded, haunted by their past, by a previous experience (love removed; i.e. parents were taken away). Both wanted love (perhaps parental). Both responded by refusing love (vulnerability factor). Charles Kane became hedonistic (self-centered & egotistical). Whereas, Bruce Wayne became altruistic. Both were molded by a previous experience as they put up their own “No Trespassing” signs and yet they responded differently.
QUESTION: Who is Batman?
CLIP # 1 “It’s not what you say…..” (1:09:50)
Intro to scene: Bruce Wayne is attempting to cover-up his identity as Batman by living as a millionaire playboy and not as a vigilante.
Bruce Wayne (caught as a shallow millionaire playboy); “Rachel, all of this…it’s not me…inside…I am more.”
Rachel Dawes (responding with a sense of concern); “But it’s not who you are underneath; it’s what you do that defines you.”
QUESTION: Agree or Disagree?
Are we defined by our actions or intentions?
CLIP #2 “It’s not what you say….. (1:58:17 - :44)
Intro to scene: When Batman is about to depart Rachel Dawes, she is concerned that she does not know who has saved her and fears that he won’t survive fighting the bad guys and believes there is a chance he may not survive and says, “Who are you?”
Batman responds; “It’s not who I am underneath; but what I do that defines me.”
Rachel Dawes (surprised and confused); “Bruce?”
And leaps away and “flies” off to beat up bad guys.
QUESTION: Who are you (Batman)?
1. Are you someone who has had a previous experience that defines you?
2. Are you someone who puts up “No Trespassing” signs that defines you?
3. Are you someone who responds with being “hedonistic” or “altruistic” that defines you?
4. Are you someone who hides behind a mask?
5. Are you someone who takes their fear and make it their strength?
MEANS Vs ENDS (Machiavelli)
QUESTION: Does the end justify the means?
For some, the end never justifies the means (i.e. vigilantes are always wrong)
Where for others, the end usually does not justify the means (i.e. vigilantes like Batman are accepted)
Where for still others, the end has less impact at restricting the means (i.e. vigilantes molding Batman, “Dark Knight”)
POINT: Batman some times, the end justifies the means (even his mere act of being a vigilante)
The TROLLY PROBLEM (Philipa Foot & Judith Jarvis Thomson)
A trolley car is traveling down the track. Further down the track is a group of people who do not hear the trolley and who will not be able to move out of the way. There isn’t enough time to stop the trolley before it kills the group of people. The only way to avoid killing the group is to switch the trolley to another track. However, there is one person standing on that track and the switch will kill that person. You have the power to switch the track of the trolley, what do you (morally equivalent)?
Utilitarian (what is the best for the most): you are required
Deontologist (obligation, duty – action over consequences; the end does not justify the means): No
Middle of the road: Not required, but permitted
BATMAN’S RESPONSE
Batman does not kill because, if he killed, it would make him as bad as the bag guys.
IMPLICATION – Guiding Principle
When the end justifies the means, this would imply that there is something more important than the principle or variable of “the end does not justify the means.” When does this happen in our life, help define who we are. The more we wrestle with this issue the more we get closer to answer the question, “Who are you”?
QUESTION: What is your guiding principle(s)?
Are there additional guiding principles beyond Previous Experience?
Prepunishment – Philip K. Dick, “Minority Report”
Infant Hitler syndrome
TRIADS – “relational discipleship” - a way of growing spiritually (know thyself)
JOHN 1:21 - John the Baptist was asked; “Who are you?
John the Baptist knew who he was and his mission/purpose (Ric).
John the Baptist defined himself by his actions:
A. Baptized
B. Knew he was not the Christ and his purpose to prepare the way
C. Died for his convictions
John 8:25 - Jesus was asked; “Who are you?”
QUESTION: Is Jesus defined by his actions?
RESPONSE TO THE IDENTITY OF JESUS
Does “Who are you Jesus?” make an impact on your life? Are we defined by how we respond to the question, “Who are you Jesus?” In other words, if Jesus is divine,, or Lord, or human, revolutionary, ; make an impact on our life.
HOW TO RESPOND TO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCES (paint of the past)
There are times, we must overcome our previous experiences; because our previous experiences make an impact on how we live our lives and the impact our choices make on the lives of others (Dennis Prager, “Happiness is a Serious Problem”; we are morally responsible to be happy). Victor Frankyl (Man’s Search for Meaning) reminds us that we always have a choice. They (Nazis) can take everything away, except how we respond to them. We need not be victim to our previous experiences; we have a choice.
CHALLENGE: What issue would cause you to agree that the end justifies the means?
NEXT WEEK: AUGUST 17: AMAZING GRACE
We will continue to wrestle with this issue: IT’S NOT WHAT YOU SAY, IT’S WHAT YOU DO; that defines you” through the movie Amazing Grace
CLUE: John Adams, said and did “no slavery”; whereas, Thomas Jefferson, said “no slavery”….
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